Getting married is one of the biggest events in life, with the big day alone often taking months of planning. But staying safe and secure during all the important marriage and newlywed moments is something that doesn’t occur to many couples. Master Lock has some great tips and products to help ensure that happy couples are able to easily keep important items safe and organized, from tax paperwork to the marriage license.

The Registry: Although more than 2 million couples tie the knot each year, a recent study shows that up to 84 percent of U.S. and Canadian residents do not include safety items on their wedding registry. Adding a durable, long-lasting safe, such as the Sentry Safe FHW40200 Waterproof Fire-Resistant File, to your registry will help ensure your valuables, marriage license and other important belongings are protected and safeguarded for years to come.

The Honeymoon: Whether you are traveling to an exotic destination or spending the weekend away, your honeymoon is a celebratory time for you and your spouse. As you pack your sunglasses, sandals and suits, don’t forget to lock up your luggage with a Master Lock 4688D or 4692D TSA-Accepted Luggage Lock to protect your valuables while traveling. Make sure to keep credit cards, cash, jewelry and other small items in the portable Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace personal safe to secure your belongings while you have some fun in the sun.

The Home: Buying your dream home and moving in together may be the first time couples combine their belongings. From electronics to jewelry, your home is the place where all of your personal valuables and belongings are located. With a burglary occurring every 15 seconds, turn your house into a safe haven with added protection and security measures. Beyond customary locks, use a Master Lock 265DCCSEN Door Security Bar to resist forced entry through front, patio or sliding glass doors.

The Finances: Filing jointly with your spouse offers many advantages, and with a new marital status comes significant changes that could affect your taxes. Couples who jointly file are able to deduct two exemption amounts from their income and qualify for multiple credits. To keep all your necessary tax documents organized and protected throughout the year, use the Master Lock Vault, a free, digital safe deposit box, to store credit card numbers and digital copies of tax forms or other important documents in a secure, reliable location for easy access from any smart phone or computer.

The Commitment: Getting married should be a positive time in your life, and committing to your spouse and relationship is a significant milestone. As in other areas of your life, marriage will be full of ups and downs. Planning for the long-term, discussing your goals, compromising and making sacrifices are all important steps to creating a happy and strong foundation together.

If there’s one thing that I make no secret of, it’s my love of cheese. Of all the foods in the world, it is quite easily my favourite and I add it to virtually any dish I can think of. I make all kinds of meals with cheese, but for a quick lunch or an afternoon snack, there’s simply nothing better than a grilled cheese sandwich made with Kraft Singles cheese slices.

As luck would have it, April is National Grilled Cheese Month, and since I definitely don’t wait until April to enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches, I wanted to do something extra special to commemorate the event. And so the Grilled Cheese Party was born! The boys and I created three gourmet twists on the classic grilled cheese sandwich with the help of an array of different toppings and bread. If you love grilled cheese, you will definitely want to try one of these tasty variations! [Read more…]

I am a little bit addicted to subscription box services, and a few months ago I discovered my favourite one yet. Snackbox is a monthly subscription box packed with better-for-you snacks carefully selected by a holistic nutritionist and delivered straight to your door. I had the chance to dig into the September snack box recently and having already discovered some new family favourites in my first Snackbox, I couldn’t wait to see what treats I would find in my next box!

That moment of first opening the box and finding it packed with tasty treats is always so satisfying. And September’s Snackbox had plenty to get excited about! My eyes immediately went to the Dan-D Pack Macadamia Sea Salt nuts. I am a huge fan of all kinds of nuts, but macadamias are my all-time favourite. I quietly placed the container aside to sneak away to my room before the boys saw it! [Read more…]

October is Fire Prevention Month and it’s such an important time to make sure that your family is protected and prepared in case of a fire. It’s no secret to most people that having working fire alarms in the home is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your family’s safety in an emergency, but many people still tend to forget to check those alarms regularly and replace them periodically when needed.

First Alert, Canada’s most trusted and recognized fire safety brand, wants to ensure that Canadian families stay safe all year, and this month First Alert is making that even easier with the release of the new First Alert ATOM Smoke Alarm this month. The alarm uses micro technology to provide maximum protection in a small and sleek design. In fact, the ATOM Smoke Alarm is no bigger than a votive candle, which means it’s the perfect alarm for discreetly protecting your stylish home without spoiling the look of your décor!

All year long, Playtex Mommyville has been featuring some of the amazing Canadian moms that share their knowledge and ideas with others in the Playtex Mommyville Mom of the Month program. It’s a chance to celebrate you for all the things you do in a day, big or small, to ensure that your children are happy and healthy. And participating in the program is so easy!

Just head to the Playtex Mommyville Facebook page and fill out a brief questionnaire with your favourite parenting tips and memories. Each month, Playtex will pick one of the moms that filled out the questionnaire as the Mom of the Month. You’ll be featured on the Playtex Mommyville website and Facebook page cover photo all month long! Isn’t it nice to get a little recognition for all you do?